1 Samuel 23:19-29
The Voice
19 At that time, some of the people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and told him David was hiding in some of the secure places at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah to the south of Jeshimon.
People of Ziph: 20 Now, O king, come down whenever you desire, and we will do our part by handing him over to you.
Saul: 21 May the Eternal One favor you for having compassion on me! 22 Check one more time to be sure; find out where he is exactly and who has seen him there because I hear that he is crafty. 23 Look around, find out all his hiding places, and come back to me when you are certain of your information. Then I will go back with you, and if he is still in the land, I will find him among the tribe of Judah no matter how many thousands of people there are.
24 They set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Meanwhile David and his followers were hiding in the wilderness of Maon, in the desert plain[a] to the south of Jeshimon. 25 When Saul and his men went to search for them, David found out and went to the rock in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard this, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 At one point, Saul and his men were on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other. David and his men picked up the pace, trying to escape, but Saul and his forces were closing in fast and hoped to capture them.
27 Then a messenger arrived and spoke to Saul.
Messenger: Come quickly! A Philistine raiding party is in the land!
28 So Saul stopped his pursuit of David and went to fight the Philistines, which is why that place is known as the Rock of Escape.
29 From there David went up and lived in the narrow canyons and cliffs of Engedi.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 23:24 Hebrew, Arabah
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
